Kevin Doyle says that despite having drifted to the margins of Martin O'Neill's squad he will continue to make himself available for international duty.
For as long as he continues playing Doyle will be available for selection though he is not, he admits, quite sure how long that will be.
Doyle played just 27 minutes for Ireland in 2016, against Switzerland back in March when he suffered a serious injury and he subsequently missed out on the European Championships.
Along the way, he admits, the notion of retiring from international football crossed his mind but he made the squad for Moldova and will, he insists, continue to come back for games as long as the manager feels he might have something to offer.
“I have thought about it because I do a lot of travelling here. I have young kids, I am away from the family so much but I’ll be available as long as I’m a professional footballer. I have plenty of caps for Ireland, I’d love to add to them. It doesn’t mean I’m going to get picked but while I’m still playing, I’ll make myself available.”
The injury against Switzerland was one of two that punctuated his season with Colorado Rapids, a hectic campaign that was finally ended last Sunday by a play-off defeat to Seattle Sounders, their first home defeat of the campaign.
“To go through the season unbeaten at home was amazing but we don’t have anything to show for it which is tough. We’ll take some time but we’ll go again next year and hopefully we’ll be better.
“But I enjoyed it . . . being physically fit and strong when I was playing. And I enjoyed the excitement of being at the top of the table; being in contention to win something...it had been a while.
Big deal
“It’s amazing the way things change for the play-offs. I had never really experienced American play-offs before but that’s what everything is geared to really. Everyone comes of out of the woodwork and it was exciting to be a part of that. It really felt as though it was a big deal. The only pity is that we lost.”
Despite the disappointment he has, he says, taken to both the place and the football.
“Denver’s a lovely spot,” he says. “I didn’t know a whole lot about it before I came out so I’ve been lucky. My wife [(Jenny] and kids [(Benett and Arianna] love it. It’s the busiest city in America for people moving to it.
“It’s taken off. Although,” he adds with a laugh, “that could be the legalisation of weed. It might have something to do with it.”
“We do plan to move back to Wexford [eventually]. It’s been a long time and I’d like to live in Ireland. My contract runs to the end of next season so we’ll see then whether we stay in America or go home. I’ll see how the season goes, how my body is, whether they want me, whether I want to stay. I’m at the age where it’s just one season at a time I suppose but after America, that’s it I think.”
When it’s behind him, he intends to do his coaching badges although he is far from sure about a career in management.
“I’ll get them and try my luck at a few things I think but then who would be a manager? They go in looking fresh-faced and suntanned and six months later they are grey and look as though they are about to die of a heart attack. So I’ll see. It’s a tough life. I don’t envy them sometimes.”
In the meantime, a new style of football is suiting him rather well. It might look laid back, he says, but the high temperatures make anything more high tempo almost impossible.
“I was used to a more direct style of play but I’ve enjoyed it. It takes a bit of adapting to but I don’t mind the fact that in 30 degrees they’re not just pumping balls up to me.”
And the MLS is, of course, a happy hunting ground for strikers?
He laughs again.
“It’s interesting; people text me and say, ‘did you see that goal or whatever… the defending is shit in the MLS!’ and I say, ‘did you see…’ I dunno, ‘Crystal Palace and Swansea?’
“But rather than people talking how the shite the defending is in the Premier League they will say, ‘Oh, what a game!’ Don’t get me wrong, it’s great, I love it but it’s amazing how people can see two different things.”
